Nailbiting finish

With much already decided, there was plenty of Mid Sussex interest focussed on the East 2nd XI clash of the top two.
tom handfield bowls to tom mackenzietom handfield bowls to tom mackenzie
tom handfield bowls to tom mackenzie

Burgess Hill started the match a point ahead of their hosts, Ansty, but with all of the top five in with a chance of the title, there was plenty of change come the end of the day.

Hill lost by one wicket in a nailbiting finish but slipped down to fourth as Ansty lifted the title.

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Aaron Barnes starred with 80 as Hill posted a total of 195 and then a flurry of late wickets had Ansty in a state of panic beforeJames Wilson (54no) edged them home.

tom handfield bowls to tom mackenzietom handfield bowls to tom mackenzie
tom handfield bowls to tom mackenzie

Henry Smethurst took 4-16 for Ansty and then Hill’s George Willett (5-52) and Ian Plummer (4-46) almost swung it their team’s way.

Jack Sadler (101no), Dominic Reason (74) and Joe Pinard (57no) helped Lindfield moved up to third with a 187-run victory over basement club Lewes Priory.

In the 1st XI championship, long-time leaders Lindfield finally pipped Haywards Heath for the title (story on back).

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Meanwhile final day action at St John’s Park was a day to forget for Burgess Hill as they lost to Ansty. Hill had nine players missing to football but the visitors were also without some regulars.

Having won the toss on a placid pitch, Ansty made hay while the sun shone. James Whybrow carried his bat for 101 and Jon Young smashed his way to 95 as Ansty raced to 269-2 in 42 overs.

Tom Trowbridge (75) and makeshift opener Hugh Warmisham (29) then put on exactly 100 before Glenn Anson (4-41) and Will Wright (3-18) got to work to bowl out Hill for 158 as six players recorded ducks.

In Division 2, the St James’s season ended with a 10-wicket defeat at the hands of champions Eastbourne, for whom David Twine took 5-22 and Mark Tomsett hit 68 not out.

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